Our Vision.
Safe neighborhoods through the reduction of crime and the fear of crime

Our Mission.
Supporting community partnerships through training and technical assistance

Our Goal.
To promote public safety by providing statewide, on-site training and technical assistance that supports:

Proven, effective strategies to reduce crime;

Collaborative Supervision and Focused Enforcement (CSAFE) and similar partnerships among communities, the criminal justice system, and governmental and private agencies;

A multi-system team approach to case management and supervision;

A coordinated interagency approach to offender reentry;

Community innovative approaches and best practices; and

Effective data management and analysis through applied technology.

CSAFE Support
The Collaborative Supervision and Focused Enforcement initiative emphasizes an interagency effort between state and local public safety agencies to reduce crime and ensure public safety. CSAFE "Teams" are composed of a law enforcement officer, a juvenile services case worker and a parole and probation agent. Together, they accomplish the CSAFE mission through effective policing, enhancements to offender tracking and community reentry, warrant tracking and technology and community capacity building.

The Advanced and Specialized Training (AST) Unit provides various levels of structured initial and ongoing training to CSAFE participants:

CSAFE Academy
The Advanced and Specialized Training (AST) Unit hosts an annual CSAFE Academy for new members of CSAFE teams and their supervisors. The three day curriculum includes classes on the CSAFE philosophy, interagency collaboration, team building, team safety and related public safety topics.

CSAFE Summits
The Advanced and Specialized Training (AST) Unit provides on going training for HEAT Team members through Annual CSAFE Summits. The Summits serve as forums to update HEAT Team members on the latest developments regarding CSAFE, explaining any changes in reporting or grant requirements and related public safety topics. The Summits also provide an opportunity to showcase some of the outstanding and innovative work done by the HEAT team members.

NST Forum
The Advanced and Specialized (AST) Unit hosts a Neighborhood Safety Team (NST) Forum for NST members. This day long event focus on crime prevention, narcotics distribution, gangs, resources, alternate funding sources and other topics relevant to neighborhood safety and enhancement

Continuing Education
In addition to the training provided to the CSAFE teams, the Advanced and Specialized Training Unit also offers various continuing education classes. Listed are some examples of the different training sessions offered in the past:

Coming Soon to a Neighborhood Near You: Reentry: Participants explore preconceived notions they have about offenders returning to communities from local and state jails/prisons. Through interactive case scenarios, educational presentations, and a panel discussion, current statistical information is provided about what works nationally and statewide.

Mentally Ill Offender: An overview of statistical information pertaining to mentally ill juveniles and adults as well as tips for distinguishing between mental illness and other disorders. Prevention and supervision techniques will be provided for professionals working with suicidal populations.

Gangs: This training reveals to the audience where the most intense activity is occurring, where the gang battlegrounds are currently being drawn and who the combatants are.

Sex Offender: Participants will learn about the types of offenders and the current supervision and treatment strategies for adult sex offenders. Characteristics of juvenile sex offenders will also be explained along with the differences between adult and juvenile sex offenders.